Frederic Remington

Text by Peter Hassick.  1973 edition.

FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS, Reming-ton's name is synonymous with the early American West. For nearly thirty years, from his first western trip in 1881 until his death in 1909, Remington devoted himself to record-ing with great care and enthusiasm the colorful figures and exciting saga of the American frontier. His important role in American art has been well summarized by Theodore Roosevelt: "The soldier, the cowboy and rancher, the Indian, the horse and cattle of the plains, will live in his pictures. I verily believe, for all time."

Remington was prolific and successful as an illustrator, painter, and sculptor.  His first success came with his illustra-tions, which by the 1890s were being published regularly in the most popular magazines of the day.  He began making sculpture in 1895, and immediately showed a great talent for this medium.  His painting also flourished, especially after the turn of the century, when his style grew more painterly and impressionistic, and he became fascinated with the effects of light.  In whatever medium Remington worked, he was pri-marily a narrative artist: his interest was people and the part they played in history.  The depiction of the human figure was thus his main concern, and especially in his earlier work he went to great lengths to achieve authenticity and accuracy.  Most of his work also includes the beautifully rendered horses especially in action that have brought him such wide public recognition.

The splendid large-scale illustrations of Remington's drawings, paintings, and sculpture in this volume are from two of the most important Remington collections those of Amon G. Carter and Sid W. Richardson, close friends who shared an admiration for Remington's art.  In a preface, Ruth Carter Johnson, the daughter of Amon Carter, tells of the friendship of the two men and the growth of their collections.

The author, Peter H. Hassrick, is curator of the Amon Carter Museum of Western Art and has written an illuminating text describing in detail the artist's life and work.

94 illustrations, including 60 in full color

Good condition for age.  Inside unmarked.  Dust jacket present with minor wear but some discolouration.